SPORTS PEOPLE: PRO BASKETBALL

SPORTS PEOPLE: PRO BASKETBALL; Worthy Arrested

Published: November 16, 1990

James Worthy, the Los Angeles Lakers' All-Star forward, was arrested at his hotel in Houston yesterday afternoon and charged with solicitation of prostitution, police authorities said.

Worthy, 29 years old, was arrested at about 3 P.M. yesterday at the Stouffer Hotel by undercover vice officers, said Sgt. Ralph Gonzales. The player was released from the Houston City Jail at 7:10 P.M., just before tipoff time for the Lakers' game with the Houston Rockets, but when the game started, he was not present and Sam Perkins started in his place. Worthy arrived later and played.

A police spokesman, Dan Turner, said that Worthy called an escort service, requesting that two women meet him in his hotel room. The escort service had earlier been shut down by police and undercover officers had taken the place of prostitutes, the spokesman said.

If convicted of the two misdemeanor charges, Worthy faces up to six months in jail and a $1,000 fine.

"I was very surprised," the Lakers' coach, Mike Dunleavy, said. "All I know is that James has been a model citizen for the Lakers and has been a wonderful person and player for me in my tenure as coach." (AP)